Hair clippers



E. D. MALoY HAIR CLIPPERS Dec. 13, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May l2, 1952 INVENToR.

770/Q/VEX HAIR CLIPPERS Filed May 12, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 fig. ..7

fig. 5 38 n INVENTOR.

E. D. MALOY HAIR CLIPPERS Dec. 13, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 12, 1952 y n m0 N T- p mA a VM m. A D 7 m Dn Y lf-B United States Patentflice Patented Dec. 13, 1955 lHlRiC'L-'IPPERS `Ernest D. Maloy,l Cedar-Rapids, Iowa Application May 12,1952, SeralNo; 287,331

gv8 Claims. '(Cl. S0-202) ThisVinvention-'rlates to bar'bers"- tools and has particullarrzlati'onf'tomoitor driven clippers for cutting hair.

''It'fis 'thepractice "in many' horned/particularly in large families, for members of the family to cut eachothers hair. IMo'stfsuchhair cuts are rough in appearance 'when 'cutbysuch unskilled operators becauseof the diiculty in feathering or: tapering the cut.

Itiha's'be'en proposed Vthat thecomb Vof motor driven shearsb'elmade adjustable or variable in-thickness so that th'eoperatormay vary thecut manually,`but such devices are not satisfactory for "thefreasonthat the adjustment mustnecessarilybe by steps, with the resulting haircut means'for manually disengaging an automatic` hair tapering mechanisnrand `elfectively locking'the Vlength of cut adjustment at any" time.

fA'nother main object of the invention is vto provide a 'hair-'clipping device particularly suited for use by unskilled operators.

Other 'and further features and objects of the invention will be more apparent to those skilled in the art upon aiconsideration of the accompanying drawingsand followingfs'pecications, wherein is disclosed a single-exemplar'yembodiment ofthe invention, with the understand- 'In'g,however, 1that1such changes may be V.made therein fas n fallwithin the-scope of the appended claims, -without 'idepai'tingfromthe spirit of the invention.

Pn Psai'd-v drawings:

Figure `l-is.a1view, generally in top elevation, -of :the headtof Ia vhairclipping-device embodying myinvention. Arcover'andvc'ertain other yparts'of the mechanism have been removed to better illustrate the comb adjusting mechanism with-Which this invention is more particularly concerned.

Figure-2 is a'vertical, longitudinal section taken through th'e-cutting *head of the clipper generally along the line 2--L2loflFigure l.

Figure 31-is1aplanview of the cutting head, similar to Figure -1 but illustrating the cutter or movable blade actuatingimechanism.

Figure 4.is aview in vertical longitudinal section of the cuttingrhead -as takengenerally along the line '4-4 of Figurell. f 'l 'Figure -5 is afragmentary sectional view of'the comb plate tand/its mounting vas taken along the :line V5=5 of FigureZ.

:Figure -6fis aside elevational View of a hairy clipping Z device Jembodying my invention 'and illustrating, inpat- "ticular, the external :port-ion of the mechani'smfovad justing the tapering comb.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary View of thelread4 ofthe device 'o'f-`Figure 6, illustrating the position of the combfandthe external actuating mechanism as itwould 'appear when takinglthe shortest cut possible as `in the start of Ia 'stroke at the base of the hairline, and Y Figure 8 yis Va lsimilanfragmentary'view in side yelevation of thecutting head, y"but illustrating the position o'f the comb andtthe voperating mechanism as'it'would appearat the end of Va stroke in which the hair has beenftapered from a minimum to a maximum'leng'th.

Referring ynow to *the drawingsin which :myinve'nt'on "isishown in connection 'with a-'more or less conventional driving mechanism powered 'by an -electric "motor; fthe electric `motor (noteshowri) Yis mounted Within the' handle rL-anfextension shaft '-12 of the motor extendinglong'i- Itudinaliy'through'a bushingfiS-into thevhead -1'1 onithe forward end of the handle.

The cutter'blade 16, -wh-ich is mounted fortransverse reciprocating movement at the forward endof t'he head 11, in contact with the upper surface of thecomb-plate 17, 'is caused to reciprocate transversely by powersupplied from tlr'efelectric motorthrough the yfollowinglelei'nents A'Worm l'-1i,=aiiixedto "the 'motor shaft L1?., is -meshed withv `a Wormgear11f9mounted'for free' rotation'on the vertical stub shaft'Zl. A cam 22 Va'ixedtotheft'op of the worm gear 9servesito-'drive the rocker yarmi?, through the 'clipper pitma'n 24 which is pivotally 'connected thereto by means of the'fpivot pin v26. 1The rocker armlis `pivotalllyrn'ount'e'd 'on 'the' pivot stud 27, and'sealed Iby'feltwipers'ZS. The Vflts 25 wipe Vthe member -2'3 to sealtlieV 'gear box-V and keepffuzzand hair fromenterin g `-the chamber inwhich the `worm gears are mounted.

:Thefendoffthe rocker arm is received in afsocket 'or slot 28 inthe cutterblade 16 where'bymovement'o'f Ithe rocker Iarm results v"in rapid reciprocation of the cutter blade. This cutter blade Vis urged intolirm contact-With the combplate y`1*7"by means of lthe'lea'f lspring 29 which rides in theftransverse groove 30 in the' upperfa'ce lof the cutter blade.

The comb plate17, 'which may be extended lorre- 7tracted relative to the cutter blade, is ys'lideably mounted onit-h'el-an`gl1larly disposed underside of vthe head. vThe `slides 31,2 best shown in `Figure'5, are secured tolthe'inner recessed surface of the comb plate 17 by screws'f'32,'an`d ythese slides Aare dovetailed, as indicated "at l3:3,1into the sidewalls 'of thehead for sliding movement therein. A 'rack 34,-providedbetween the slides 31, is ven'gagedby the gear sector 3.6. This gearfsector is a'xed to the 'rotatably mounted transverse sector shaft L37 which is caused to rockby power supplied from the motor through lthe worm i8 and thefollowing mechanism.

,A 'worm -gear i38, -Imeshed With the drive worm "1;8, listmountedforffree rotationV on the transverse supporting shaft 39. `A 'worm 41 (Figure -2), also mounted onthe shaftf39, is secured to ithe Worm gear 38 for rotation therewith by any `suitable means, such as a tooth *and 'groove connectiomnt shown. -An'intermediate Worm geari42,fmes'h`ed with th'e'worm 41, is carried by'the Verticallypositione'dstub'shaft`43 along with the ylinal Worm '44. The worm 44 is yslideable on the stub shaft 43 to'permit vdisengagement from the intermediate `worm gear42 with `which it lis engaged by means of -a dog-toothed clutch 546. Movementof the yworm l'44 away from the worm.gea1`f42fis limited by the snap ring 47.

ThenalLdi-iven-gear 48, which meshes with'the'na-l Worm 44, ispinned to the transversecrank ishaft`49fwhich extends throughfa .bushingSl in the side wall Tof the headll. A circular `crank1plate"52, threade'dlyeng'a'ged on the outer vend of the crankshaft, and preferably knurled on its peripheral surface, has a socket 53 in the outer face thereof spaced from the axis of the shaft. The crank pin 54, which is aflixed to the end of the comb pitman 56, is received in the socket 53. The crank pin is normally held in position by the resilience of the pitman and the rocker arm 57 to which the pitman is pivotally connected at 58.

The rocker arm 57 isaffixed to the threaded outer end of the transverse rocker shaft by means of the nut 59 and prevented from turning by means of a key or a prick-punched indentation, as indicated at 61.

The comb pitman 56 may be detached from the crank plate by springing the pitman outwardly. When detached, the pitman may be used to manually position the comb to secure any desired length of cut. For this purpose a plurality of sockets, as indicated at 62, are adapted to selectively receive the crank pin 54. Figure 6 illustrates, by dotted lines, the position of the pitman S6 when adjusted in this manner. Thus the clipper may be operated in the manner of a conventional type clipper, except that it may be readily adjusted to cut hair to any desired uniform length within the adjustable range of the comb plate.

The interior mechanism of the clipper head is enclosed by the cover plate 64 which is secured in position by screws 66.

The functioning of the cutter blade actuating mechanism is more or less conventional, but the comb plate adjusting mechanism, which operates in conjunction with the cutter drive, or independently as desired, provides a hair clipping device which is particularly adapted for home use by an unskilled operator.

However, the novel features of my device make it just as valuable to the professional barber.

In use, and with the comb pitman engaged to the crank plate, the comb will be reciprocated, fore and aft, at a speed determined by the rotation of the crank plate 52. The gear train 38, 41, 42, 44, 48, which drives the crank plate 52 from the motor worm 18 is preferably designed to provide an operating cycle of from two to four seconds, although slower speeds as well as speeds in excess of one revolution per second are operable. Thus the operator, in trimming a subjects hair, starts a cutting stroke at the base of the hair line, as shown at 67 in Figure 7, when the comb plate is in its fully retracted position. As the operator moves the clippers upwardly, the comb plate is fed outwardly for a period of approximately two seconds or three and even the most unskilled operator can quickly learn to synchronize his movements with those of the comb plate.

During the return portion of each cycle, the comb plate is retracted for a like period of two or three seconds during which period the operator may reposition the clippers for the next stroke.

Figure 8 illustrates the manner in which the comb plate is extended as the clipper is moved upwardly whereby a cut is provided which tapers smoothly from a minimum at the hair lineto a maximum at the top of the stroke.

It should be here noted that the motion of the comb plate, driven by a pitman and constant-speed crank plate, corresponds to a sine wave. Because of this, the rate of movement of the comb plate is relatively slow, both at the beginning and at the end of each stroke. Thus the operator has better opportunity to control the cut at these points which are naturally relatively more critical. Of primary importance is the fact that the operator is not required to lift the clippers before the comb plate starts to retract in order to avoid a rough line at the upper end of the tapered cut. The operator may slide the clippers downward over the scalp during the retracting portion of a cycle to place the clippers in position to even up a cut on the next upward stroke, or lift the clippers off the scale or slide them to a new position to start a new cut. He has several seconds to do this.

As stated before, the automatic comb feed may be disengaged by springing the crank pin out of the crank plate. This may be accomplished in another and, for some purposes, more convenient manner.

The crank plate S2, as stated before, is preferably rotated at a speed of approximately one revolution in four seconds, which is slow enough to permit the user, at any point during a cycle of operation, to rotate the crank plate manually.

This may be accomplished by movement of the thumb against the crank plate in the direction indicated by the arrow. The movement must be at a speed sufficiently greater than the normal driven speed in order that pressure will be exerted upwardly on the tinal worm 44 to disengage the dog-tooth clutch 46. Immediately the clutch is disengaged, the worm will cease to rotate and no further movement of the thumb will be required in order to prevent further automatic movement of the comb plate. The snap ring 47 limits the movement of the worm 44 which etfectively locks the crank plate and comb plate as long as the user maintains pressure on the crank plate as described.

Both the comb plate and cutter blade may be quickly removed for sterilizing. The pitman 56 may be disengaged from the crank plate to permit the rocker arm 57 to be moved rearwardly. Sufficient movement results in disengagement of the gear sector 36 from the rack 34 and the comb plate may be completely removed. The cutter blade will be released at the same time.

Although I have described a specific embodiment of my invention, it is apparent that modifications thereof may be made by those skilled in theart. Such modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a hair clipper having a head, a cutter blade mounted thereon for transverse reciprocation, and means for reciprocating the cutter blade; a comb plate slideably mounted on the head for longitudinal reciprocation relative to the cutter blade, and means for reciprocating said comb plate, said latter means including a crank member and means operatively connecting the crank member and the comb plate, said means for reciprocating the comb plate being arranged to reciprocate the comb plate at a substantially slower rate of speed than the cutter blade, and a driving mechanism for driving said means for reciprocating said comb plate inwardly and outwardly at regulated rates, said driving mechanism being operatively connected with the means for reciprocating the cutter blade.

2. In a hair clipper having a head, a cutter blade mounted thereon for transverse reciprocation, a motor, and means powered by the motor for reciprocating the cutter blade; a comb plate slideably mounted on the head for longitudinal reciprocation relative to the cutter blade, and means for reciprocating said comb plate, said means including a crank member and means operatively connecting the crank member and the comb plate, and a driving mechanism operatively connected with the motor and arranged to rotate the crank member at a speed not in excess of one revolution per second.

3. In a hair clipper of the character described having a cutter blade and a comb plate mounted for longitudinal reciprocation relative thereto for the purpose of controlling the distance between the cutting edges of the cutter blade and a hair bearing surface; a crank plate and means, including a pitman, operatively disposed between the crank plate and the comb plate translating rotary motion of the crank into reciprocating motion of the comb plate, a motor, and means adapted to drive the crank plate from the motor at reduced speed, said means including a worm gear, a floating worm engaged therewith and clutch members normally in engagement to drive the worm, the said worm, worm gear and clutch being so arranged that normal driving movement urges the clutch members into engagement and whereby manual acceleration of the crank plate by the user will float the worm and disengage the clutch members to thereby stop the crank plate at any point during a cycle of operation.

4. In a device of the character described comprising a head having a cutting mechanism, a motor operatively connected therewith, a comb plate adjustably positioned relative to the cutting mechanism for controlling the position of the cutting mechanism relative to a hair-bearing surface and means providing a power-driven, cyclic operation ranging from a minimum to a maximum adjustment of the comb, said means including speed reduction mechanism driven by the motor, a oating worm, clutch means operatively connecting the speed reduction mechanism and the worm and disengageable by sliding movement of the worm, a worm gear in engagement with said worm, a crank plate driven thereby, and means including a pitman operatively connecting the crank means and the comb plate.

5. In a device of the character described comprising a head having a cutting mechanism, a motor operatively connected therewith and a comb plate adjustably positioned relative to the cutting mechanism; drive means providing a cyclic operation ranging from a minimum to a maximum adjustment of the comb, said drive means including speed reduction mechanism driven by the motor,

a crank, a pitman and a rocker arm operatively connected between the crank and the comb plate, and manually operable clutch means disposed to optionally disengage a portion of said drive means at any point during a cycle of operation.

6. In a device of the character described comprising a head having cutting mechanism, a motor operatively connected therewith and a comb plate positioned relative to the cutting mechanism for the purpose of spacing the cutting mechanism away from a hair-bearing surface; means for adjusting the relation of the comb plate to the cutting mechanism, and drive means for continuously moving the comb plate through complete cycles of adjustment, each cycle ranging from minimum through maximum limits of adjustment and each cycle requiring a period of timein excess of oneV second for com eletion.

7. In a device of the character described comprising a motor, a head having cutting mechanism, and a comb plate adjustabiy positioned relative to the cutting mechanism for the purpose of spacing the cutting mechanism away from a hair-bearing surface; means for driving the comb plate through a complete cycle of adjustment from minimum through maximum adjustment, said drive means including a crank and pitman whereby translation of rotary motion by the crank into linear movement by the pitman results in a relative slow rate of change of adjustment of the comb plate when approaching the minimum and maximum limits of adjustment.

8. In hair clippers, a comb, and a cutter blade in faceto-face contact with said comb and adapted for reciprocation thereon to cut hair with a shearing action, the comb being sharp at the forward edge and thick at the rear ends of the teeth, means for reciprocating the cutter, means for moving the comb outwardly for a given period of time to increase the spacing between cutter and scalp as the operator moves the clipper upwardly on the head, and means for retracting the comb through a like period of time to enable the operator to position the clipper for the next cutting stroke, the timing of the movement of the comb being determined and maintainedin known and constant periods to enable the operator to accurately pace his cutting and positioning movements.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,899,102 Michael Feb. 28, 1933 1,982,979 Buller Dec. 4, 1934 1,988,199 Greco et al. Jan. 15, 1935 2,006,493 Andis July 2, 1935 2,480,920 Gullong Sept. 6, 1949 

